MTU Maintenance Hannover: Wulff lays Foundation Stone for New Test Cell
16 May 2007
The foundation stone was recently laid at MTU Maintenance Hannover in Langenhagen for a new test cell. Lower Saxony's minister president Christian Wulff performed the ceremony alongside company representatives—headed by MTU executive vice president and COO Dr. Rainer Martens—and regional president Hauke Jagau. The senior politician told the blue-chip guests from politics, industry and science: "Lower Saxony's state government is en-thused with this significant investment in Hannover. It clears the path for further growth at the location. MTU is a highly innovative company that closely cooperates with companies and research institutions in all of Lower Saxony. The investment again testifies to the amazing competence of Lower Saxony's aviation technology."
Martens advised that MTU was going to spend some 21 million euros on the new test cell. "It will further reduce our turnaround times, and short turnaround times will improve our competitiveness," explained Dr Uwe Blöcker, who since March has been heading MTU's maintenance shop at Langenhagen. Going up in the southeast corner of the 140,000 square meter company grounds, the new test cell will rank among the most advanced worldwide. "It will be up and running by the summer of next year, at the latest," Blöcker promised.
The new test cell will accommodate engines in the medium to upper thrust ranges powering such aircraft as Airbus A320 and A330s and Boeing 737 and 747s, as well as emerging engines up to 150,000 pounds of thrust. The new test cell will be the second one at Langenhagen, being erected next to the existing cell. So far, engines with maximum thrusts of 62,000 pounds are being tested a Langenhagen. Explains Blöcker: "Owing to our encouraging growth, one only test cell will no longer do for us. We hope the new test cell will help us generate additional growth and so secure the long-term economic viability of the location." Responsible for the reinforced steel construction will be US-based Cenco. Apart from the test cell proper with its intake and exhaust stack, the facility will also include an outbuilding containing social and service rooms, a control room and a computer room.
MTU Maintenance Hannover is a wholly-owned MTU Aero Engines affiliate and the Group's center of excellence for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of com-mercial engines in the medium to high thrust categories. The company's growth is outpacing the market: its order book is ballooning and its employment last year grew by 200 jobs, to 1,400. In the commercial arena, the MTU Maintenance Group is the world's largest independent provider of engine maintenance services.
MTU Aero Engines is Germany's leading engine manufacturer and one of the big players globally. It operates affiliates in all major markets and regions. In fiscal 2006, the company had 7,100 employees and 2.4 billion euros in sales. In the commercial area, the German No. 1 in the industry closely cooperates with the world's largest engine makers: its strategic partner Pratt & Whitney as well as General Electric and Rolls-Royce. In the military arena it is Germany's industrial lead company for practi-cally all aircraft engines flown by the country's services. Having established leading positions in engine technologies, the company excels in low-pressure turbines, high-pressure compressors, engine control units and manufacturing and repair processes.
